Key senior management changes for the UK service business have been announced by BayWa r.e. this month, heralding an exciting start into the new decade.
Oliver Niedhöfer is relinquishing his position as Managing Director for the UK service business to take on a new role focusing on the development of global services and the support of the digitalisation strategy for the company.
He is replaced by Stuart Beattie, who joined BayWa r.e. as Managing Director in early 2018 through the acquisition of Becon, and BayWa r.e. in-house Legal Counsel, Natasha Kumar.
The promotions come at a time when BayWa r.e. is experiencing a continued period of growth, most recently opening a new offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The company has been operating in the UK since 2014 and its operated portfolio of wind and solar assets has already exceeded the 2GW mark.
Tobias Bittkau, Global Director of Services, comments: “The changes in the UK will significantly support our continuous global growth and the development of our digital services. We are able to deploy the experience gained in the UK over the last couple of years on an international level and thus propel the company forward, whilst at the same time implementing strong and innovative management in the United Kingdom, one of our core markets.”
Natasha Kumar, who brings along 10 years’ experience in the renewables sector, adds: “It is an exciting time for BayWa r.e. in the UK and we’re committed to helping the UK meet its green energy goals. I am delighted to play a part in the company’s strategic path to develop completely new approaches to green energy services.”
Stuart Beattie adds: “There are a lot of opportunities in the UK at the moment, and in 2020 we are planning to significantly grow our existing services as well as introducing new services. 2019 was a great year for us and I am confident that we will be able to repeat this success. I am very much looking forward to working with Natasha, and I wish Oliver all the best for his new role!”
In addition to these significant management changes BayWa r.e. announced the merger of its operational entities BayWa r.e. Operation Services Limited and Becon Consultancy under the name “BayWa r.e. Operation Services”. The latter company was acquired by BayWa r.e. in 2018 as one of the leading service providers for high voltage maintenance and switching services, landscaping maintenance and civil groundworks for renewable energy schemes in the UK.
Complementing the service business, BayWa r.e. is active as a project developer, undertaking both the planning and construction of wind farms in the UK.
The project business has seen recent success with the sale of the Tralorg Windfarm, a Tesco PPA and the acquisition of Forsa energy’s development business. The Project business is headed by Gordon MacDougall.
